The Kirkus Prize is one of the richest literary awards in the world, with a prize of $50,000 bestowed annually to authors of fiction, nonfiction and young readers’ literature. It was created to celebrate the 81 years of discerning, thoughtful criticism Kirkus Reviews has contributed to both the publishing industry and readers at large. Books that earned the Kirkus Star with publication dates between November 1, 2015, and October 31, 2016 (see FAQ for exceptions), are automatically nominated for the 2016 Kirkus Prize, and the winners will be selected on November 3, 2016, by an esteemed panel composed of nationally respected writers and highly regarded booksellers, librarians and Kirkus critics.

KIRKUS REVIEW

The stuttering son of a famous
explorer discovers a new ability that will change his life and his world
forever.

Marlin Rackham doesn’t have an
ordinary childhood. He works alongside his brother, Tim, and father, Ronan, in
the family’s exotic South American zoo, a zoo so renowned that rich and famous
people from all over the world travel to visit the resort. But Marlin has a
problem: He stutters. His stutter is so bad he can barely communicate with
people. Many think he’s mute. However, there is one group Marlin can talk to
with no problem: the animals. And when his father brings a jaguar back from an
expedition, the beast’s mystical ways make it possible for the animals to talk
back. As Marlin communicates with the animals, Gale (The Bully Book, 2011)
explores the complicated issues of animal captivity with intelligence and
heart. The book is firmly pro-animal, but the stance isn’t overt or preachy. A
secondary plot concerning Marlin’s relationships with his father and brother is
equally nuanced and powerful, making the book a formidable read on two fronts.
The romantic setting and striking prose are icing on the cake, creating an
intoxicatingly charming book.

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